Wal-Mart to enter RI

Wal-Mart to enter RI

JAKARTA (JP): Another foreign retail business will enter
Indonesia through a franchising mechanism.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of the United States announced yesterday
that it will enter Indonesia early next year following the
signing of an agreement between Wal-Mart Stores and the Lippo
Group of Indonesia in Bentonville, Arkansas, the United States,
last week.

Wal-Mart Stores will provide retail expertise and management
services for the operation of Wal-Mart Supercenter at Lippo
Karawaci in Tangerang, west of here. The ownership will be held
by the Lippo Group as the retail industry remains closed to
foreign investors.

Wal-Mart Supercenter, which will occupy an area of 180,000
square feet at Lippo Karawaci, will offer various kinds of
merchandise.

In addition to Wal-Mart, a number of foreign retailers, like
Sogo and the defunct Yaohan, entered Indonesia through
franchising arrangements with local firms. (rid)